Boozer for Prince? Bosh and Lebron To Play Together?

Boozer to the Pistons for Prince: saves the Jazz $4 mil and gives them 2 lanky expirings (+AK) for next year. Chad Ford: I think it's something to keep an eye on. The teams have spoken in the past. Detroit really needs a big. Jazz could plug Prince in at the three and move Kirilenko back to the 4. Probably a deal that makes sense for both teams. - ESPN.com

I continue to hear the Bosh and LeBron want to play together so ... Miami could make it happen, but they'd have to really gut their roster to do it. Bulls could make it happen too if they can move Hinrich and Salmons for expiring contracts before the deadline. - ESPN.com

McGrady is working with Grover daily, doing drills and scrimmaging with Bonzi Wells, among others, at Grover's Attack Center on Chicago's West side. "Any team who wants to come down to Chicago, to come look at it, I don't pull any punches," said Grover, who made a career of training Michael Jordan and took on Kobe Bryant last season. "Put him through anything they want him to put him through. Whether it's a trade or buyout, he's ready to go." - New York Post

Devin HarrisAnd rest assured, the Nets are disappointed enough to listen to offers for Harris -- they just don’t expect to get anything done with any of their six core guys before the Feb. 18th deadline. But they’re not exactly considering him a (sportswriter cliché alert) untouchable anymore. - Newark Star-Ledger

Rod Thorn sidled up to one of them during free throw drills, pulled up a chair, and talked the guy’s ear off as the player sat with his head resting against the basket. “Nah, (trade possibilities) never came up,” said Josh Boone, who is incapable of lying. “I only know what I read, and they say they’re shopping me.” - Newark Star-Ledger

There have been murmurs that Hill will benefit from a stint with the Springfield Armor, the Knicks’ affiliate in the N.B.A. Development League. D’Antoni said that decision rested with the team president, Donnie Walsh. Hill said he would gain more from staying with the Knicks even if he did not play. “I’d definitely like to stay here,” Hill said. “We’ve got Al, David Lee. Just going up against guys like that every day. It’s helping me get better.” - New York Times

Blatche was still unsure of the exact reason that he was suspended on Monday, telling me that he was shocked when he arrived for practice and Saunders sent him home. Blatche said the best he could surmise is that he was suspended because of his attitude during a timeout in Sunday's 115-110 loss to New Orleans. On Monday, Blatche complained about having no shot attempts in the game on his Facebook page. He wrote, "Never have I played a game and had no shot attempts, they me all [expletive] up." - Washington Post

"I know he says I didn't get a shot. If you're 6-10, 6-11, you can get an offensive rebound. For anybody who thinks that a coach has to run plays to get you shots, that's a team that's not going to be a good team," Saunders said. "My biggest thing since coming here, I've been to four straight conference championships, I have never ever on those teams had a player ask about shots. And since I've been here, the main thing, my main focus to change is the number of players to say, 'I've got to get shots.' In Detroit for three years, I never had one player ever ask. Same thing in Minnesota. The only player I think I ever had in 14 years, was maybe Wally Szczerbiak, a few times. And Dray is one of them." - Washington Post

Turning it around, relatively speaking, isn't impossible. The same miserable speculation engulfed Oklahoma City last season when the Thunder started 3-29. Kevin Durant and Co. began to coalesce in January and OKC finished 23-59. "You take it one game at a time," Harris said. "I know how that sounds, but you can't look at what's happened before. You have to come out with a fresh mind every day and try to play hard." - NBA.com

Judging from the All-Star Game balloting, the 13-year veteran still needs to win over a few fans. As of now Nash stands third in the balloting among Western Conference guards behind Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (the league leader in points) and Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets (the league leader in salary). Apprised of the latest results in voting, Nash rolls his eyes, smirks and says, "I'm heartbroken." "Steve could care less," Suns coach Alvin Gentry says. "But I think it's important that he start because he deserves it. At his age, there hasn't been any guard who's done what he's done." - FanHouse

Spurs centerpiece Tim Duncan, who needs 94 points to join the NBA's 20,000 point club, was asked before Monday's practice if the impending milestone meant anything to him. Anything at all. "It means I've been playing a long time. It means I'm old. It means I'm closer to the end tha tto the beginning," Duncan said, beginning to chuckle. "It means a lot of things that are negative more than positive." - San Antonio Express-News

According to Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin, he was cleared to play today by the doctor who performed his Nov. 9 surgery. Martin, who has been out since having the operation done to repair a hairline fracture in his left wrist, said the next couple days of practice will determine if he can play as early as Friday's game at Philadelphia. - Sacramento Bee

Josh Howard, nursing a left thigh bruise that kept him out of Saturday night's home loss to Utah, practiced for a second consecutive day Tuesday and appears on track to play Wednesday night when the Mavericks welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to the American Airlines Center for the first time this season. That's the good news for the Mavs. The bad news is starting center Erick Dampier and reserve forward Tim Thomas are questionable and newly acquired forward Eduardo Najera is doubtful. - ESPN.com

We continue to keep our eye on a number of freshmen and a few have drawn interest from NBA scouts over the past few weeks. A number of NBA scouts remain very high on LaSalle big man Aaric Murray. His numbers don't particularly wow you and he's been inconsistent. However, he has good size and has impressed scouts with his ability to step away from the basket and shoot the jumper. In fact, Murray has shown terrific range from the college 3. He missed 8 of 9 3-pointers in a recent game against Xavier, yet is still shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc for the season. - ESPN.com

Sources from both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors insist there have been no talks between the two clubs regarding an Andrew Bynum-for-Chris Bosh swap. The Lakers view the 22-year-old Bynum as a key building block and a player whose best years are ahead of him. And Toronto has thus far been steadfast in its stance not to entertain trading Bosh this season. - ESPN.com

That’s not true. Dwyane Wade is their top target, unless LeBron James sends word that he’s interested. Atlanta’s Joe Johnson is probably candidate 1A and playing in Chicago would do wonders for his national profile. So that might be a realistic scenario. - Arlington Heights Daily Herald

The San Antonio Spurs are not happy or satisfied with where they stand today. League sources said recently that the Spurs made a pass at New Orleans trying to pry away Chris Paul with an offer that included Tony Parker. The offer was immediately turned away by the Hornets. - HoopsWorld

Amid the increasing number of rumors pertaining to Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Thorn said he expects one or some of the top free agents in the 2010 market to move on before the Feb. 18th trade deadline. “I think you’re going to see a lot of action (league-wide) between now and the trade deadline,” Thorn said. “You’re probably going to see some major deals before it’s over with.” - Newark Star-Ledger

Even though Oklahoma City will be $14 million under the salary cap, Lee, who led the NBA in double-doubles last season and is averaging 19.1 points and 10.9 rebounds, realizes Thunder general manager Sam Presti’s long-term plan. "They’re probably saving the Brinks truck for those three guys,” Lee said. "At this point there’s so much still to be seen. I’m just concentrating on helping this team, which can do some good things, then see how everything pans out this summer.” - Oklahoman

Kahn called the report "totally without merit" and said he has "not made one offer involving any of our core players to other teams" and said he has decided to not do so until he and Kurt Rambis have had all of this season to evaluate the team. "I have no desire, no wish to do anything with our core pieces this season," Kahn said. "In effect, our season did not start until Dec. 4 (when Love returned from a broken hand). We don't know who we are yet. You can make some terrible mistakes by making decisions too quickly." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Rockets are in discussions with several clubs about McGrady, and sources say two of the teams near the top of their wish list are Washington and Chicago. - ESPN.com

The Nets would be willing to part with everyone except Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and perhaps Yi Jianlian. But unless something makes absolute sense, the Nets don’t want to take back salaries that hurt their spending ability this summer. - Bergen Record

The departure of Sean Williams ends one of the more distressing chapters in recent Nets history. A world-class athlete, Williams never developed the skills to be an effective player after being picked 17th in the 2007 draft, and his immaturity in dealing with routine tasks ruined any hopes the Nets had for him to be a reliable player. “You’d think by this time he’d establish himself as an NBA player,” Thorn said. - Newark Star-Ledger

Pistons guard Will Bynum, who became friends with Arenas this summer as both are clients of Chicago-based trainer Tim Grover, said Arenas was in the wrong, but there isn't a malicious bone in Arenas' body. "Me knowing Gilbert, he's that kind of guy, a playful guy who does a lot of pranks, but there's nothing violent within the things he's doing," said Bynum, who missed Monday's game because of sore ankles. "Of course he's wrong for bringing, having it in the facility. "Me knowing him, I know there was nothing to be intended violent at all." - Detroit Free Press


Redd said he intends to keep playing despite suffering two serious injuries in less than 12 months. "Something in my heart won't let me give up," he said. Redd spoke with his teammates at the arena before taking a flight back to Milwaukee on Monday night. "We as an organization feel badly for Michael," Bucks general manager John Hammond said in a phone interview from North Carolina, where he was scouting college basketball talent. "But we will continue to support him through this process as we have always done." - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Kevin Garnett began working out on Monday and expects him to be out another 10 days as he rehabs and strengthens his sore right knee. Rivers had indicated around New Year’s Day that Garnett would be ready by the second week in January before revising his timetable a few days later after Garnett was unable to train with the injury. “I’m hoping in the next 10 days, that area,” Rivers said. “Now, I actually am pretty sure it is in the next 10 days or so. He got to start working out today for the first time. - WEEI

Orlando Magic SG Vince Carter remains listed as “day-to-day” as he recovers from his mild — yet painful — left-shoulder injury. But the eight-time all-star did not participate in the team’s practice Monday afternoon in Sacramento, team spokesman George Galante said. Carter injured his shoulder Friday night when he ran into a pick set by Washington’s Andray Blatche. - Orlando Sentinel

Officially, the Warriors announced before the game that Monday's MRI revealed a tear of the two ligaments on the outside of Randolph's left ankle and an avulsion fracture of one of the ligaments. An avulsion fracture occurs when a ligament pulls away from the bone. Randolph will have his left foot in a protective boot for three weeks. Once the boot is removed, he will be re-examined. Once given the green light to rehab, Randolph likely will need at least four weeks, according to research of several medical Web sites. - Contra Costa Times

Wade is among several high-profile players and national team members expected to be preoccupied with free agency this summer. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh also fit that description. James met with Colangelo when the Cavs visited the Suns last month. ``It's this summer that makes it difficult,'' Wade said. ``We all know the World Games are this summer. This is a very busy summer for me. I'm not trying to be selfish or make it all about me. I'm trying to make sure what I do is right for not only me, but for the organization I play for as well as for USA Basketball.'' - Miami Herald

John PaxsonFrom what I hear, the Bulls did discuss the possibility of Paxson taking over as coach but decided against that plan, possibly due to the likelihood Paxson would be thrown out of every game. Keep in mind, he never would have made it to the NBA without that feisty side of his personality, which still exists. - Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Bucks coach Scott Skiles was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat shortly before the team's game against the Suns on Monday night. Skiles, who spoke to the media before the game and showed no signs of illness, was hospitalized for precautionary purposes, a team spokesman said. Jim Boylan coached the Bucks in Skiles' absence. Boylan coached the Bulls on an interim basis after Skiles was fired in 2008. - Chicago Tribune